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Internet Legal Research for Professor Mika’s Legal Writing Class Feb. 28, 2012
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Limitations of Google Invisible Web - Search Engines can not type or think
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Limitations of Google Too many results Results not geared for lawyers
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Limitations of Google Desired content NOT on the free web: Older cases Secondary Sources: Ojur, Forms, etc.
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Benefits of Lexis/WL Coverage Secondary sources Better Search Mechanisms - /s, /p Editorial features – headnotes, annotations Aggregate Info Trustworthiness
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Benefits of Internet v. Lexis/WL Free Can be quicker/easier
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Internet v. Lexis/Westlaw Some info exclusive to Internet Municipal Ordinances Some Court FilingsCourt Filings New case/regulation (within one day) New topics/issues
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What’s on the Free Web All US Supreme Court Cases Reported Federal Appellate 1882-, Fed District 1932- Some Unreported Fed State cases: Reported 1950-, unreported varies -1990s-
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What’s on the Free Web Statutes & Regulations- federal and states LOTS more!
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Internet Portals Library Home Page – Legal Research on the Web Library Home Page Legal Research on the Web Cornell Legal Information Institute (LII) ALSO Findlaw
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Lexis Communities
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Use LEGAL Search Engines Cornell University Legal Research EngineCornell University Legal Research Engine LexisWeb List of Search Legal Engines
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Ohio Search Engine https://www.law.csuohio.edu/lawlibrary/ohiosearch
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Dragnet by NY Law School http://www.nyls.edu/library/research_tools _and_sources/dragnethttp://www.nyls.edu/library/research_tools _and_sources/dragnet
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Search Engines Clustering search engines: Yippy, Ask.comYippy Ask.com Metasearch engines: Dogpile, YippyDogpileYippy Government Search Engines: USA.gov, Fdsys, MetalibUSA.gov FdsysMetalib Internet Wayback Machine
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Search Engines Learn search syntax Google.com – click link or wheel for advanced search Google.com Click on Advanced Search Tips to see operators
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AND (default) OR (capitalized) “”Quotes for phrase. - to remove words or phrases. ~ searches synonyms * wildcard to replace word(s) (to * or * ) No truncation sue AROUND(3) brown Fields: intitle:, site:, inurl: define: finds definitions Google Operators
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Case law Google Scholar – state reported 1950-, fed circuit/ district 1923- Google Scholar Ohio Supreme Court – Ohio reported & unreported (oldest 1992) Ohio Supreme Court Legal Research on the Web - Cases
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Search = “birth certificate” marriage transsexual OR transgender OR “sex change”
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Why don’t we get the Nash case, a 2003 unreported Ohio case?
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Limit to Ohio
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Demo Ohio Supreme Court case search
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Jureeka Firefox/Chrome add-on Retrieve by citation toolbar Fed, Ohio Official Reports, Ohio Web Cites, ORC, OAC On web documents (html), Jureeka links legal citations
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Finding Dockets, Pleadings, Motions LLRX or Resources for Online Court Dockets to find docketsLLRXResources for Online Court Dockets Some dockets have full text documents ex. Ohio – Montgomery & Summit Counties, federal PACER – Federal Court dockets PACER On Westlaw/Lexis – more search capability
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Forms Forms and Practice Materials Resource Guide Forms and Practice Materials Resource Guide Practical Law Company – free to law students Practical Law Company
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Evaluating Web Sites Credibility: author; possible bias, accuracy. Currency / Updating, Coverage Writing Quality Ease of use – Design, navigation, searchability, help Stability
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Forms and Sample Contracts Who publishes the site? A legal publisher? bar association? Does the site sell forms? Who wrote the form? Use with caution, tailor to your facts
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“Business Contracts” and Court Forms Free. Others cost $.
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Web Sites to Know Thomas.gov – Federal Legislative History, Pending Bills Thomas Fed’l Govt. – FDSysFDSys E-CFR - most up to date Code of Federal Regulations E-CFR A-Z Index of U.S. Government Depts. & Agencies A-Z Index of U.S. Government Depts. & Agencies
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More Websites to Know Ohio Supreme Court Municipal Ordinances
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Conclusion Use Free Web, but be aware limitations in coverage, currency, searching ability, reliability Go beyond Google: Use free legal databases, legal search engines and portals
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eHandout https://www.law.csuohio.edu/lawlibrary/e handout/alternatives2012 https://www.law.csuohio.edu/lawlibrary/e handout/alternatives2012
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